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Kubo in Cabanilla's Survey of Achaeological Sites in Tawi-Tawi

By Muhyiddin Ibn Al-Kutub -
A SURVEY OF REPORTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN TAWI-TAWI  By Israel B. Cabanilla  Kubo is located in Tawi-Tawi Island. The distance between Bongao and Kubo is fifty (50) kilometers west as the crow flies. We could not go directly to the site and had to take a circuitous route because of seaweed farms and coral reefs that abound in the general area. There were two sites explored in Kubo: one, the archaeological site, below the sea level and the shrine of Sheik Makdum, ten (10) meters above sea level.  Dungon has a reputation for being a no man’s land. If Tawi-Tawi and Sulu have a reputation of being dangerous, Dungon, by consensus among the residents of Tawi-Tawi, is a place to avoid. All this is folklore. One of the primary reasons given by the residents of Tawi-Tawi that perpetuates the myth of Dungon’s “notoriety” are the presence of armed illegal loggers and illegal fishermen, smugglers, pirates and other lawless elements.  We went and stayed for a couple of days there
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Sultan Muwallil Wasit I parents, children and grandchildren

By Muhyiddin Ibn Al-Kutub -
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Sultan Muwallil Wasit I (Pengiran Raja Bongsu Adipati) was the son of Sultan Muhammad Hassan of Brunei (1582-1598) from his "Putri Sulu" wife who is turn was the daughter of Sultan Muhammad al-Halim Buddiman (Pangiran Buddiman).[1] It is claimed that Sultan Nasirud-Din II (1645-1648) and Sultan Salahud-Din Bakhtiar or Pangiran Baktial (1649/50-1680) were Sultan Muwallil Wasit I sons. [ref] Of the Sultan Muwallil Wasit I's daughters, one was married to Sultan Qudarat of Maguindanao and another to Datu Balatamay (Baratamay), Rajah of Buayan. [ref] Among Sultan Muwallil Wasit I grandchildren, Sultan Nurul-Azam (Pangyan Ampay, Sitti Kabila) daughter of Sultan Nasirud-Din II appear to have inherited from his father and reign for half a decade. She appears to be the only female ruler in the Sulu Sultanate [ref] From his son, Pangiran Bakhtiar, three (3) grandsons succeeded the throne as Sultan Shahabud-Din (1685-1710), Sultan Mustafa Shafi ud-Din (1710-1718) and Sult
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Datu Aceh, Admiral of the Fleet

By Muhyiddin Ibn Al-Kutub -
When Raja Bongsu came to Sulu to become Sultan Muwallil Wasit I, with him was Datu Aceh, an experienced fighter or warrior, as admiral of his fleet [1], as adviser [2] and as his aide-de-camp [3]. In 1627, "Datu Acheh, on official business in May Nilad for the Sultanate, was intercepted by Manila Spaniards on his way home; In retaliation, Sultan Wasit led 2,000 Tausug warriors in raiding Spanish shipyards in Camarines south of May Nilad"[3]. In 1629, "the Sultanate of Sulu sent anew another expedition under Datu Acheh to attack Spanish settlements in Camarines, Samar, Leyte and Bohol." [3] In 1646, a treaty was signed with the Spaniards. This was unacceptable to Datu Aceh, so he returned to Brunei, [2] six years after the court was move to Dungon with the Capture of Jolo in 1638. References: [1] Reyes, Portia L.. "Bungsu, Raja (of Sulu)." Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE. Edited by: Kate Fleet, Gudrun Krämer, Denis Matringe, John Nawas, Everett
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Brunei's Pengiran Muda Tengah in Tawi-Tawi?

By Muhyiddin Ibn Al-Kutub -
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Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin, Brunei's 25th Sultan and father of Pengiran Muda Tengah Today, Tawi-Tawi has a reputation as a place for 'rest and recreation' for those seeking solace from fast-paced urban life or the conflict-ridden province to its north. It seems this is not just true today but has also a historical precedence. I have encountered texts with Brunei royalty calling Tawi-Tawi their "home away from home". Take the story of Pengiran Mudah Tengah. In 1889, Brunei's 25th ruler, Pengiran Temenggong Anak Hashim (regnal name Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqam al-Din and son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II) appointed his eldest son Pengiran Muda Besar Omar Ali Saifuddin as the acting Sultan to give him the experience needed when he took over the throne. When the appointment was carried out, Sultan Hashim's second son (Pengiran Muda Tengah) left Brunei and stayed in Sabah before moving on to Tawi-Tawi. Pengiran Muda Tengah did return to Brun
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Sultan Muwallil Wasit I

By Muhyiddin Ibn Al-Kutub -
Sultan Muwallil Wasit I  is reported to be the first Sulu Sultan to establish court at Dungon, Tawi-Tawi [1]. Who was he? Before he became Sultan, he was known as Raja Bongsu to the Spaniards [ref] Genealogy Was  he a son of Sultan Hassan of Brunei? Was his mother the sister of Sultan Batara Shah Tengah, his predecessor? In the Brunei Sarsila (Genealogy) on Royal Ark website, He is known as "Y.A.M. Raja Bongsu, Pangiran Adipati Agung" and "who succeeded as H.H. Paduka Maulana Maha Sri Sultan Muwali al-Wasit Shah, Sultan of Sulu (s/o Putri Sulu). Therefore his father was Sultan Muhammad Hassan, Sultan of Brunei from 1582 to 1598, who married a daughter of Sultan Muhammad al-Halim Buddiman, Sultan of Sulu and sister of Sultan Batara Shah Tengah [2] Interestingly, his maternal grandfather Sultan Muhammad al-Halim married and therefore his maternal grandmother was a "Putri Brunei" daughter of Brunei Sultan 'Abdu'l Kahar Jalil ul-Alam [3].
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How Dungon got its name?

By Muhyiddin Ibn Al-Kutub -
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A sample of a maturing Dungon Tree. ( Copyright RAFI ) One possible origin of the name Dungon maybe the abundance of Dungon tree, Scientific Name: Heritiera sylvatica[1],  in the region as this type of tree can be found in forests at low and medium altitudes. In the construction and outfitting of the boats for the Balangay Expedition in 2009, it was reported that the team sourced this type of trees from the Eastern region of Tawi-Tawi [2], the area where Dungon the historical place is situated. References: [1] http://rafi.org.ph/greenin-philippines/green-almanac/dungon/ [2]  http://www.sail-world.com/Ancient-Balangay-sailing-vessel-sets-out-on-four-year-saga/58368 and  https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/soc.culture.filipino/ud8_tCfLjqU
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